"Can you cook?"
"What did you say, sir? I didn't hear you clearly." The woman looked at Su Xiuyu in disbelief. Being asked about cooking in the middle of a bloody battlefield was the last thing she expected.
"I asked if you can cook." Su Xiuyu feigned impatience, his eyes flickering to the surrounding Uchiha. He needed an excuse—any excuse—to keep the woman and child alive.
"Yes! Yes, I can cook! And I'm good at it!" The woman nodded vigorously, realizing she hadn't misheard.
"Then from now on, you'll follow me as my servant. Take care of my daily life and meals." This was the only way he could think of to save them.
"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!" The woman was so overwhelmed that she was about to kneel and kowtow to him.
"No need. Get up, clean the blood off your face, and take your child with you." Su Xiuyu gave a simple order.
"Yes, sir." She wiped her face, smearing away the blood, then picked up her child from the cradle.
By now, the flames had begun to die down. The Blood Pond Clan's stronghold had been completely destroyed, leaving behind only the mother and daughter that Su Xiuyu had spared. But they weren't actually members of the Blood Pond Clan. They had been taken in by a kind-hearted person from the clan while wandering outside. That old man, the one who had sheltered them, had perished in the battle—reduced to dust along with the rest.
The Uchiha clan said nothing. Since Su Xiuyu had already decided to treat them as servants, it was difficult for anyone to object. Letting them go freely would have been unacceptable, but taking them in as servants? That was a different matter. Besides, Su Xiuyu was now seen as one of their own, and the Uchiha were always tolerant of their own.
On the way back, Su Xiuyu learned the woman's name—Rei. In the Warring States Period, only noble families had surnames, so Su Xiuyu didn't question it. Rei simply called him "Sir," showing the utmost respect, never bothering to ask whether his surname was Su or Uchiha.
When they reached the Uchiha clan's territory, Madara had arranged a relatively secluded house for him. "This will be your home from now on," he said.
Su Xiuyu brought Rei and her daughter inside. The place needed cleaning, and Rei immediately busied herself. Watching her run around, Su Xiuyu felt a little embarrassed. But Rei insisted—she was a servant, after all—so he let her be. The only thing he did was ask Uchiha Izuna to bring some healing medicine. Reis forehead was still smeared with dried blood.
The next morning, as Su Xiuyu was about to get up, he noticed Rei standing by his side.
"Sir, allow me to help you dress," she said softly.
Su Xiuyu stiffened. "No, no, that's fine!" He had never been dressed by someone else, let alone a woman, in either of his lives.
It was only then that he realized Rei was still a young woman herself. People in the Warring States Period married young, and her child was barely two years old. That meant Rei herself was probably only in her teens, just a few years older than him.
"My lord, I am your servant. It is my duty to assist you. Please, allow Rei to serve you."
Su Xiuyu had no way to refuse. Reluctantly, he let her do it.
Later that morning, he ran into Madara, who was giving him a strange look.
"You're still young, Xiuyu. You should learn to control yourself," Madara said cryptically before walking off.
Su Xiuyu blinked, confused. What the hell did that mean?
Then, he noticed Rei following him out of the house, her head lowered in submission.
Understanding dawned on him.
"Damn it, Uchiha Madara," he muttered. "So the Uchiha really are an 'evil' clan."
For once, maybe Senju Tobirama's infamous words—Evil Uchiha—weren't entirely baseless.
At the training grounds behind the Uchiha compound, the clan members were honing their Fire Style techniques. Uchiha Tajima had taken a group of elites to escort a supply shipment—food and ironware—so the rest of the clan trained under Madara's watch.
Since Madara had invited him, Su Xiuyu openly went to watch.
Tajima already knew that Su Xiuyu was living in the Uchiha clan's territory. The reports had reached him, detailing how Su Xiuyu bore the Uchiha name. Since he was a clansman, Tajima saw no reason to object.
At the training grounds, the Uchiha were sparring fiercely, and Madara looked on with pride. Su Xiuyu's arrival had brought nothing but good fortune—except for the lingering issue of the Kaguya clan. Sooner or later, he would have to deal with that bastard, Kaguya Itabashi.
"Madara, I've had some insights recently. Wanna spar?" Su Xiuyu asked, taking the initiative for once.
"Oh? Getting cocky, Xiuyu?" Madara smirked. "Alright, I'll help you see reality again."
That was the Uchiha way—prideful, fearless, always pressing forward.
"Be careful, Madara. I'm super strong now," Su Xiuyu warned.
Madara chuckled and flicked a shuriken toward him.
Su Xiuyu didn't move. Instead, the earth beneath his feet rose, shifting him aside as the shuriken embedded itself harmlessly in the ground.
The watching Uchiha were stunned. Dodging a shuriken was easy enough, but manipulating the earth to move without any visible hand seals? That was something entirely new.
It was clearly a unique Earth Style technique that no one had seen before.
"Oh, this Earth Style technique isn't bad." Madara was mildly surprised. Su Xiuyu had undergone some serious growth. At first, Madara worried that Xiuyu wouldn't grasp battle instincts fast enough. But seeing his Earth Style mastery put those concerns to rest. Now, he was curious to test Xiuyu further.
"Let's see how you handle this—Uchiha Shuriken, Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Technique!"
Madara's hands blurred through seals. Fire erupted from his mouth, engulfing the shuriken as they shot toward Su Xiuyu. It was the same combo that had caught him off guard last time.
"Damn, what is this? Saint Seiya? Oh, wait, wrong world," Su Xiuyu muttered. "Well, a ninja isn't supposed to fall for the same technique twice."
As the fire and shuriken closed in, he stomped the ground. Three slabs of rock shot up, forming a barrier that blocked the attacks entirely.
The watching Uchiha erupted in cheers.
"Impressive," Madara admitted, smiling. "Xiuyu, your talent is no less than mine. With Earth Style alone, you can hold your own. I, Madara, would like to call you the strongest in Uchiha Earth Style!"
Su Xiuyu winced. Madara sure loved adding qualifiers. "Strongest in Uchiha Earth Style"? Why not just say strongest outright?
"Enough for today, Xiuyu. I've seen your progress. Keep going—you've got 400 years to catch up to me."
Su Xiuyu scoffed.
"Madara, you'll die if you don't brag, won't you?"
----
"Tobirama, what is it?" Hashirama asked, noticing his younger brother's expression—one that suggested, I didn't realize you were this clueless.
"Father wants to see you. He has something to discuss."
Hashirama, still oblivious, nodded and went to find his father.
"Father, Tobirama said you wanted to see me. What's the matter?"
Senju Butsuma looked at his eldest son with the eyes of a man who had watched a child grow up. This time, his tone was casual.
"Hashirama, it's like this. The Uzumaki clan is holding a festival soon—one of their traditional celebrations, where men and women gather to watch the fireworks. Since we've always been strong allies with them, it's important for us to maintain that bond."
Hashirama furrowed his brows, trying to decipher his father's words.
Seeing his son's confusion, Butsuma continued, "I've decided that you and Tobirama will lead a delegation to visit the Uzumaki clan."
It finally clicked. They were heading to Uzushio Village. And for once, it wasn't for war. Hashirama grinned, delighted by the rare peaceful mission, and eagerly bid his father farewell.
As he left, Senju Butsuma held a formal invitation from the Uzumaki clan. The letter read:
> To Senju Butsuma, esteemed leader of the Senju clan,
The Senju and Uzumaki clans have been steadfast allies since ancient times. It is said that your eldest son, Senju Hashirama, is unmatched among the young men of this era—a true hero of the Warring States Period. Might we ask... is he married?
Butsuma read the letter once more before sighing. Looks like Hashirama has his way with women after all. He couldn't help but recall how he and Hashirama's mother had fallen in love at first sight...
---
Meanwhile, Uzushio Village buzzed with excitement in preparation for the upcoming festival.
Under the moonlight, Uzumaki Mito stood by the laurel trees in the village's back mountains, lost in thought. Her delicate fingers traced the bark as she muttered under her breath.
"Damn you, Su Xiuyu. We agreed to meet here, and I—against my better judgment—actually showed up. But you disappeared for two whole days! You were the one who asked me out!"
Her anger flared, but despite her frustration, her beauty remained undeniable. Even when fuming, she was the very picture of grace.
"Next time I see you, you scoundrel, I'll make sure you taste my sealing techniques!"
"Mito, my dear."
Startled, Mito turned to see an elderly woman with silver hair watching her with a knowing smile.
"Second Grandma?"
The woman was one of the oldest members of the Uzumaki clan, a rarity in the war-torn Warring States Period.
"I heard you've taken a liking to a certain young man. The fireworks festival will be a good chance to seize the moment."
Mito's face instantly turned crimson.
"Who told you that?! Second Grandma, you can't just spread rumors like that!"
The old woman chuckled, unfazed. So she really does have feelings for someone...
"As the princess of the Uzumaki clan, your marriage isn't entirely your decision," she said gently. "But that doesn't mean you can't be happy. Masahiko and Taiga told me they saw you sneaking out to meet someone these past two days."
Mito clenched her fists. Masahiko and Taiga again?! Those two busybodies! I only met Su Xiuyu once, and they're already gossiping!
But what Mito hadn't realized yet was that the "young man" her Second Grandma was referring to wasn't Su Xiuyu at all.
"Don't worry," the old woman continued with a reassuring pat on Mito's head. "His family will be attending the festival, and you'll have your chance. Just wait patiently, little Mito."
Embarrassed beyond belief, Mito fled to her room, unwilling to show her face. She was torn between anticipation and anxiety.
---
Over in the Uchiha clan's territory...
"What the hell? Why are you dressed like that?"
Su Xiuyu eyed Madara, who was holding out a set of formal clan robes—ones reserved for high-status meetings.
"We're visiting the Uzumaki clan," Madara explained matter-of-factly. "Of course, we have to dress properly. And don't forget, the fireworks festival is the day after tomorrow. It's the perfect opportunity for you to meet that Uzumaki girl."
Su Xiuyu frowned.
"The Uchiha and Uzumaki clans don't exactly get along. Won't they just kick us out?"
Madara smirked.
"We've already sent our visiting card. The Uchiha clan has officially expressed interest in forming a marriage alliance with the Uzumaki."
Su Xiuyu's jaw nearly dropped.
What the hell?! I only met Mito once, and all I wanted was to learn her sealing techniques! Now they're saying I'm getting married?!
"Look, you're the main attraction here," Madara continued with a slap on his back. "I'm just here for support. And don't worry, we'll be bringing a few dozen elite clansmen with us."
Su Xiuyu groaned.
Great. A whole squad of red-eyed lunatics showing up at the Uzumaki festival? They're gonna think we're raiding the place.
---
Back in Uzushio Village, the Great Elder of the Uzumaki clan studied the invitation from the Uchiha clan with a furrowed brow.
"The Uchiha clan? Requesting to attend the fireworks festival?"
He couldn't understand why those battle-hungry maniacs suddenly wanted to mingle with them.
Uzumaki Masahiko, one of the senior clan members, snorted.
"Are they coming to cause trouble?"
The Great Elder gave him a pointed look.
"Masahiko, they're Uchiha, not reckless children. And this invitation wasn't sent by their current leader, Uchiha Tajima. That means it's not an official clan action—it's likely a personal visit from the younger generation."
Masahiko still looked skeptical.
"Masahiko, you'll be in charge of receiving them when they arrive," the Great elder declared. "Make sure they're properly entertained."
Masahiko's face fell.
Damn it! I should've kept my mouth shut...
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